Hurtin Times!

[lufttiger]

Well some of you know what i do, or some of what i do. Anyway i have my
own Photography business which i started in 2000, i've been a Pro photog
since 1979. The first 5 years my business was booming, i was working 7
days a week with this and Evergreen PT. In 2006 i noticed a slow down,
not alot but noticable, in 2007 we really got hurt and i would of had to
close my business if it hadn't been for my other income. This year is starting
out just as bad. For example i would do about 17-20 weddings a year avg.
last year i did 2, this year i have only 2.

A photographer i know in a bigger metro than me used to do 30 per year.
He did 4 last year, Ouch!

The company i work for sells Nursery stock (one of the many things we do)
nation wide. Are goal for March is $875,000. We are at $500,000.

So i'm wondering are you guys feeling the bad times as well?

[Tom Houlihan]

Fortunately, from my perspective, jails don't really run out of business. Unfortunately, we're in our fifth year without a contract, and there's no hope of one in the near future. So, I've got a family with three boys on a 5-year old salary.

Trust me, I feel it!

[TRDG]

I'm sorry to hear that, where I work, the Wally store is doing great, huge sale increases, BUT, no extra help from corporate, the "do more with less" while making great sales is getting old for me and my crew there though.......

The store is only two years old and a great one for our region here in Wisconsin, got a couple bonuses in a couple quarters last year, not to bad all in all otherwise.

Cheers, hope things pick up for you, I won't depress you with our actual sales in $ ammount in the store, just wish corporate would put some of it back in the store for more people to work there!!

Tom

[Panzermacher]

Originally Posted by lufttiger

Well some of you know what i do, or some of what i do. Anyway i have my
own Photography business which i started in 2000, i've been a Pro photog
since 1979. The first 5 years my business was booming, i was working 7
days a week with this and Evergreen PT. In 2006 i noticed a slow down,
not alot but noticable, in 2007 we really got hurt and i would of had to
close my business if it hadn't been for my other income. This year is starting
out just as bad. For example i would do about 17-20 weddings a year avg.
last year i did 2, this year i have only 2.

A photographer i know in a bigger metro than me used to do 30 per year.
He did 4 last year, Ouch!

The company i work for sells Nursery stock (one of the many things we do)
nation wide. Are goal for March is $875,000. We are at $500,000.

So i'm wondering are you guys feeling the bad times as well?

I am in the Automaking business.....in 2003, before the War, we were selling 10,000 units a month. Now we are lucky to sell a 1,000 units a month. We are going to a 40 jobs per hour linespeed (we were doing a 60 jobs per hour speed) And ....we are on a week plant shutdown now (work voluntary, if you want paid, or use vacation time) And every friday in April and May will be a shutdown.
You tell me??

[Jim O]

I manage real estate and have trouble collecting rents also. People are in the same boat as you. Raising rents has been out of the question the last two years or so but the cities have raised assessments and tax rates (not to mention the water and sewer rates).

So what are people doing with their weddings? Are they having Uncle Sidney take a few snapshots and making their own albums?

[lufttiger]

To summ it up, Digital photography has killed the Pro Photog. I saw this coming when it first came out, so i didn't quit my other job which was the
original plan.

Basically people are buying affordable Cameras, and printers, and scaners to
do there own work. People getting married who need to be cheap due to the
econmy have a friend do it or hire Joe Blow who is willing to do it for $300.

I've had people, mostly H.S. Seniors scan their photos so they can make all
the wallets they want. Its gotten worse with the high cost of living.

Were a family of three, and need a 3 job income to stay alive.

Yeah PM is in a tough boat, its all out of his control, hang in there buddy!

TRDG did you ever see that documentary about Wally World?, it will open your
eyes. That family isn't interested at all in their employies so it doesn't surprise
me that Corp isn't helping you. I used to sell to them, never again.

[Freightshaker]

I hope things come up for you LT. Shipping is moving along normally for this time of year. It always slows down during the winter. The company I use to preload trailers for has been hit hard since they manufacture window molding and it's heavily dependant on the housing industry. I'm averaging 2,000+ miles a week, which is pretty normal for early spring.

[cyberia]

Sorry to hear this LT, I know how hard you worked at it.

I doubt it will effect us though. Bad news is still news.

[Scout32]

To back up Freightshaker,it's typically slow right now.but as long as the trucks roll we'll have something to do.

[Geek44]

Sorry to hear times are a little tough guys. Times change eh? Funny, I've been thinking about what I can do when I go back to working, that will be 'hard times proof'. The funeral industry has come up but my partner thinks empathy isn't my strong suit. I guess she's right. when my parents died in '06, I was business as usual withing two days. It's not that I don't care...it's just that death is part of life...long story and not really relevant here.
Thinkin' of you fellers.